Closure device for fountain pens



May 12, 1931. R. WE'INGART CLOSURE DEVICE FOR FOUNTAIN PENS Filed June 5. 1930 4/? BY M T-rbRNEY Patented May 12, 1931 warren S\TATES PATENT OFFICE RICHARD WEINGART, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNO R T0 EVEREADY PEN COMPANY,

INC., 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CLOSURE DEVICE FOR FOUNTAIN PENS Application filed June 5, 1980. Serial No. 459,327.

This invention relates to fountain pens, the invention being more particularly related to a closure for the writing nib.

The object and purpose of the invention is 5 the provision of an improved closure or housing composed of cooperating parts arranged to incase the nib completely when the pen is not in service and to be manipulated so as to expose the nib in a convenient and satisfactory manner when its use is required for writing.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a housing of the-character described, which will be simple in construction, easy and convenient to operate, which is readily removable in order to enable the barrel body to be filled with ink or to permit cleaning or replacement of parts, and one which is economical in manufacture.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a novel construction wherein any dripping of ink from an unclean nib, or any ordinary leakage from the feed, to or upon the inside surface of the housing, will not be transferred and desposited upon the outside surface thereof. Owing to this feature of the invention, the outside surface of the housing is kept free of ink so that the hands and clothing will not become smeared and stained.

More specifically, the invention involves an outer rotatable barrel member and an inner non-rotatable barrel member which is operated through the operationof the outer member, both of the members being arranged for relative movement longitudinally of the en. The invention also involves segment ends on the barrel members which are tapered to coact so that the end of the inner barrel the barrel members are in closed relation, and further so that the end of the outer barrel member will have a cam action effect upon the end of'the inner barrel member to bring about a preliminary movement of the inner barrel member and unseat the plug end when the barrel members are to be moved into open relation for exposing the nib.

Other objects and aspects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

member will serve as a sealing plug when The invention consists of the improved housin or closure, and in the construction and relhtive arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter described and subsequently defined in the subjoined claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, which forms a material part of this application, and wherein I have illustrated several examples 2- In the drawings Figure 1 represents a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through a fountain pen construction in accordancewith my invention, the barrel parts of the housing being shown in extended and closed position incasing the Writing nib;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the barrel parts in retracted position with the writing nib protrudin through the registered openings in the en s of the barrel parts;

Fig. 3 is a view of the right-hand end of the housing as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary longitudinal section through another embodiment of the invention;

Fi 5 is a diagrammatical plan View showing t e form of the guide slots in the outer rotatable barrel part; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail showing a modification in the construction of the segment ends of the barrel parts.

Referring with more particularity to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10 denotes the main barrel or body of the pen, and this barrel or body may be of any suitable, appropriate or approved construction. Held in one end of the body 10 is a writing nib 11, and it will be observed that this writing nib is held in an eccentric manner.

My improved housing or closure, in its preferred form of construction, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises inner and outer barrel members 12 and 13, the inner barrel member being of considerably less length than the outer one and fitting snugly althou h movably around the body 10 and within the circumferential cavit or enlargement 14 of the outer member. 0th members are attachedto the barrel for relative movement.

. ing the outer member, a pin 17 is secured to the body 10 to operate in aguide slot provided in the inner periphery of the outer member and consisting of a guide slot portion 18 which extends 180 around the pen in a'plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body 10, and of a communicating slot portion 19 which extends forwardlytoward the rear end of the inner barrel and parallel to the longitudinal axis .of the body 10.

' Accordin to an important feature of my invention, t e inner and outer members 12 and 13 are provided respectively with closure segment ends 21 and 22 which, as best shown in Fig. 3, are in the form of semi-disks so as to leave openings of corresponding form in the'ends. The edges 21, 22 of the ends 21 and 22 are beveled or tapered, with the edge 22 overlapping the edge 21' as shown. From an inspection of F i 1 it will be observed that when the barre s are in closed position for incasing the nib, the segment end 21 fits as a plug in the opening defined by the segment end 22, so that both segment ends 21 and 22 lie in a common plane. In order to maintain the segment end 21 firmly in its seat against thesegment end 22 and yet to permit relative retraction of the inner barrel 12, a coil spring 28 is interposed between the interior annular shoulder 2 1- of the outer member and the rear end of the inner member. By this arrangement, as the outer member is turned the segment end edge 22 has a cam action efifect upon the cooperating edge 21' so as to force a retraction rearwardly of the inner barrel member against the urge oi the coil spring. in this way, the segment end 22 gradually assumes an exterior position over the segment end 21 so that by the time the outer barrel has been moved to the full extent permitted toit by the guide slot 18 portion. 19, it being obvious that when the segment end 22 is outside the segment end 21, the inner member 12 will be retracted in correspondence with the outer member 13.

According to one of the features of my in vention, provision is made for preventing any ink that may be deposited upon the inside face of the segment end 22'from an unclean pen or from a leaking feed, from being transported to the outerface of the segment end 21. The means to this end comprise a spacing shoulder or ring section 25 located at the junction between the inner face of the segment end 22 andthe outer member 13.. Owing to the provision of this spacing shoulder or ring section the inner face of the segment end 22 cannot contact with the outer face of the segment end 21. With this constructional feature, the outside surface of the housing is kept free of ink so that the hands and clothing will not become smeared and stained.

As previously noted, the inner non-rotatable member 12 can be removed from the body 10 because the guide slot 16 is open at the front end of the pen. The outer member 13, for its removal, preferably has formed therein as a segment thereof aclip segment 25 which is openable on a pivot 27. This clip segment contains therein, as shown, a portion of the guide slot 18.. In the present instance, a spring piece 28 normally maintains the clip segment in-a closed position upon the body 10 and in engagement with the pin 17. Said spring piece 28 yields in an obvious manner when the clip segment is opened outwardly to escape engagement with the en 17. The body 10 is re resented as provlded with a recess 29 in or er to allow a person to engage a linger nail or some suitable'instrument behind the free end of the clip piece 26 in order conveniently to edect the opening movement of the same. For holding the two barrel members in retracted position, the body to provided with a protuberance 30 receivable in a recess 31 provided adjacent the free end of the clip segment.

in the constructional form shown in Fig. i, the coil. spring 32 is interposed between the rear end of e inner barrel member 33 and'an in-turne annular flange 34 formed at the rear end of the outer barrel member 35. In this construction, the outer barrel member is represented as provided with a guide slot transverse portion 36 connecting a short portion 3'? with a long portion 38.. Both barrels held in operative position not screw in which is threaded into the body it). 1 he inner member 33 is provided with a longitudinal. slot 10 through which the pin 39 extends, said longitudinal slot itself en tending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the barrel so as permit relative endwise movement of inner member, While preventing the rotation thereof. lo the outer member, the communicating slots 37, 36 and 32 work on the plane as to permit, in the order mentioned, a short forward movement of the outer member, then arotation thereof through 180 and finally a full retraction of said member.

The inner and outer members 33 and 35 are provided with segment ends 41 and 42, respectively, the segment end 41 being formed so as to provide a plug of considerable depth for seating in the semi-circular opening defined by the opposite segment end 42. These segment ends are provided with cooperating tapering end ed es 41' and 42; and a spacing shoulder or rmg section 43 is also provided in order to prevent the inside face of the segment end 42 from contacting with the outside face of thesegment end'4l when the outer barrel is turned into open position. In this form of construction, with the parts in the relative positions shown in Fig. 4, it is necessary in order to expose the writing nib for use, to press the outer member forwardly for the distance permitted by the short slot 37, this operation resulting in the advancement of the segment end 42 beyond the segment end 41. Thereupon the outer member is turned to the full extent permitted to it by the slot portion 36 so as to bring the segment end 42 in front of the segdefined by the segment ends into registry for the projection of the nib. \Vith the parts in this position, the outer barrel member is retracted the full extent permitted by the slot portion 38 so as to project the nib for writing.

In the embodiments herein presented, the edges of the segmental ends have been considerably exaggerated in order better to dis close the formation of the parts and such edges are shown as slightly separated. In practice, however, when the barrel members are in closed relation, the edges of the segment ends will be in firm sealing contact and held in such condition by means of the spring parts. This is essential in order to safeguardagainst any see age of ink from the inside to the outslde o the segment ends.

In Fig. 6,1 show a further modification in which the segment end 44 of the inner barrel member 45 is represented as provided with an edge 46 of ti-shaped form in cross section. The segment end 47 of the outer barrel 48 is represented asprovided with an edge 49 substantially triangular in form for fitting snugly in the apical angle of the V-shaped edge 46. This construction is intended to provide an additional safeguard against any seepage of ink to the exterior faces of the segment ends; and since in this construction the triangular sha ed ed e 49 will itself serve as the spacing me ium, t e spacing shoulder or ring section is omitted.

it will be manifest from the foregoing that I have disclosed thoroughly satisfactory forms of construction which embody the features of advantage enumerated in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that the constructions illustrated are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any-of its advantages.

I claim 1. In a fountain pen, a body with a writing nib, a housing for the nib including two members connected by guide connections with the body for relative movement, both members bein connected for endwise movement and one being connected for independent turning movement, said members having cooperative segment ends and openings, the segment end oi" one member being formed to seat in the opening of the other member, and the member having turning movement being adapted through the turning thereof to position its segment end opposite the segment end of the other member and its openlng in registry with the opening of the other member, whereby to allow the projections of the nib through the registering openings. ment end 41 thereby bringing the opening 2. In a fountain pen, a body with a Writing nib, a housing for the nib including inner and outer members connected by guide connections with the body for relative movement, both members being connected for endwise movement and the outer member being connected for independent turning movement, said member having cooperative segment ends and openings, the segment end of the inner member being formed to seat in the openin of the outer member, and the outer mem er being adapted through turning thereof to position its segment end and openin respectively in front of the segment end an opening ofthe inner member whereby to retract the inner member and at the same time to project the nib through the openings.

3. In a fountain pen, a body with a writing nib, a housing for the nib including two barrel members connected by guide connections with the body for relative movement, both members bein connected for endwise movement and one eing connected for independent turning movement, said members having cooperative se ent ends and openings, the segment end 0 one member being formed to seat in the opening of the other member, and the member havin turning movement being adapted through t e turning thereof to position its segment end opposite the segment end of the other member and its opening in re ist'rg with the opening of the other mem er, w ereby to allow the projection of the nib through the registering openings, and spacer means for preventing the confronting faces of the segment ends fromjcontacting one with the othera 4. In a fountain pen, a body with a writing nib, a housing for the nib including inner and outer members connected by guide connections with the body for relative movement, both members being connected for endwise movement and the outer member being connected for independent turning movement, said member having cooperative segment ends and openings, the segment end of the inner member being formed. to seat in the opening of theouter member, and the outer member being adapted through turning thereof to position its segment end and opening respectively in front of the segment end and opening of the inner member whereby to retract the inner member and at the same time to project the nib through the openings, and means for securing the outer member in retracted position upon the body.

5. In a fountain pen, a body with a writing nib, a housing for the nib including inner and outer members arranged to have relative lengthwise retracting movements and the outer members having an independent rotary action for o ening movement, segment ends on the mem rs and openings, the segment end of. the inner member adapted to seat within the opening of the outer member when the latter is in closed position, the segment end of the .outer member being formed to act on the other segment end and pass outside therepf when the outer member is turned to open position, to register its opening with the opening of the inner member and thereby permit pro ection of the nib for writing.

6. In a fountain pen, a body with a writing nib, a housing for the nib including inner and outer members arranged for relative lengthwise retracting movements and the outer member having an independent rotary action for opening movement, segment ends on the mem ers and openings, the segment end of the inner member adapted to seat within the opening of the outer member when the latter is in closed positioma spring between the members for urging the inner member in the position in which its segment end is firmly seated, the segment end of the outer member being formed to act on the other segment end and pass outside thereof, forcing thereby retraction of the inner member and compression ofthe spring, when the outer memer is turned to open position for registering its opening with the opening of the inner member to permit projection of the nib for writing, and the segment end of the outer member when outside of the end of the inner member being capable of causing retraction of the inner member correspondingly with the retraction of the outer member whereby to pass the nib through the registering open in s.

g. In a fountain pen, a body with a writing nib, a housing for the nib including inner tive lengthwise retracting movements and the outer member having an independent rotary action for opening movement, segments ends on the members and openings, the segment end of the inner member adapted to seat within the opening of the outer member when the latter is in closed'position, a spring between the members for urging the inner member in the position in which its segment end is firmly seated, the segment end of the outer member being formed to act on the other segment end and pass outside thereof, forcing thereby retraction of the inner member and com pression of the spring, when the outer member is turned to open position for registering its opening with the opening of the inner member to permit projection of the nib for writing, and the segment end of the outer member when outside of the end of the inner member being capable of causing retraction of the inner member correspondingly with the retraction of the outer member whereby to pass the nib through the registering openings, and means for secui'ing the outer member in retracted position upon the body.

8. In a fountain pen, consisting of a longitudinal body, and writing nib held eccentrically in one end thereof, a housing for the nib comprising inner and outer barrel members having closure segment ends and openings for the nib, the inner member being con nected to the body to have movement longitudinally thereof and being non-rotatable while the outer member is connected to the body to rotate for a distance at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body and at the conclusion of said rotation to be retracted for a distance lon itudinally of the body, said segment ends having cooperative edges with the segment edge of the outer member overlapping the corresponding edge of the inner member, to thereby enable retraction of the inner member when the outer member is turned to register the openings for exposing the nib, and further to enable retraction of the inner member by the outer member when the nib is to be projected through the registered openings.

9. In a fountain pen, a body, a writing nib, a housing for the writing nib, including inner and outer members respectively mounted to the body, the former to have longitudinal non-rotative movement and the latter to have rotative movement for a distance and thenretractive longitudinal movement for a distance, said members having closure segment ends leaving openings for pro ecting the nib, and the segment end of the outermember being formed to have a cam action efiect on the corresponding end of the other member tothereby force retraction of the inner member upon turning of the outer member and to register the openings foroexposing the nib and to enable full retraction of the inner member by the retraction of the outer member when the nib is to be projected throu h the registered openin s.

10. n a fountain pen, a body, a writing nib, a housing for the writing nib, including inner and outer members, respectively, mounted to the body, the former, to have longitudinal non-rotative movement and the latter to have rotative movement for a distance and then retractive longitudinal movement for a distance, said members having closure segment ends leavings openings for projecting the nib, and the segment end of the outer member being formed to have a cam ment end 0 ing nib,

action effect on the corresponding end of the other member to thereby force retraction of the inner member upon turning of the outer member and to register the openings for exposing the nib and to enable full retraction of the inner member by the retraction of the outer member when the nib is to be projected through the registered openings, and a compression spring arranged between the inner and outer members.

i 11. In a fountain pen, a body with a writing nib, a closure for the nib. including inner and outer members connected by guide connections with the body for relative longitudinal movement, the inner member being connected for longitudinal movement only, while the outer member is connected to have turning-movement independent of its longitudi-- nal movement, said members having cooperative segment ends and ogenings, the segment end of the inner mem er being formed to seat in the opening of the outer member, the outer member being movable longitudinally forwardl to thereby unseat the segf the inner member and to be turned so as to register its opening with the opening of the inner member for the projection of the nib and simultaneously to position its segment end in front of the segment end of the inner member whereby on longitudinal movement rearwardly to move the inner member correspondingly vand. thereby expose the nib, and a yielding part urging said members in opposite directions.

12. In a fountain pen, a body with a writa closure for the nib including inner and outer members connected by ide connections with the body for relative ongitudinal movement, the inner member being connected for longitudinal movement only, while the outer member is conected to have turning movement independent of its longitudinal movement, said members having cooperative segment ends and openings, the segment end of the inner member being formed to seat in the opening of the outer member, the outer member being movable longitudinally forwardly to thereby unseat the segment end of the inner member and to be turned so as to register its opening with the opening of the inner member for the projection of the nib and simultaneously to position its segment end in front of the segment end of the inner member whereby on longitudinal movement rearwardly to move the inner member correspondingly and thereby expose the nib, and a spacing ring section on the inner face of the segment end of the outer member for en aging the outer face of the segment end 0 the inner member.

13. In a device of the character described, a pen body having a writing-nib and a housing for the nib comprising members movable relative to one another and with respect to the pen body, said members having complemental end pieces which constitute a closed end for the housing when the end pieces are disposed in one plane, said members being movable into a position in which the end pieces are disposed in spaced planes whereby an opening is provided throu h which the nib protrudes upon further ad ustment of the members.

14. In a fountain-pen, a pen body having a writing-nib, a housing for the nib comprisng a pair of members having complemental end segments adapted to .assume positions in the same plane in which they constitute a closed end for the housing, said members being movable to position the end segments in spaced planes and means for preventing engagement of one segment with e other.

15. In a fountain pen of the characterdescribed, a pen body having a writin '-nib and a housing for the nib carried by the ody and including inner jand outer members which are adjustable laterally and rotatably with respect to one another and laterallyof the pen body, said members being formed with complemental end pieces, said members being relatively adjustable to position the end pieces in the same plane in which position they'constitute a closed end for the housing or to position the end pieces in spaced planes to provide an opening through which the nib protrudes upon lateral adjustment of the members with respect to the pen body.

16. In a fountain pen, embodying an ink containing body with a writin nib, a pair of lncasing members for said ody and nib mounted for relative longitudinal movement, provided at the nib end of the pen with interfitting plug and seat parts, said plug and seat parts bein constructed and arranged for seatin an unseating action on movement of one of the incasing members in a direction lengthwise of the other incasing member.

1 In a fountain pen, embodying an ink containing body with a writin nib, a pair of incasing members for said ody and nib, provided at the nib end of the on with interttmg plug and seat parts. sai plug and seat parts bein constructed and arranged for seatin an unseating action on movement of one o the incasing members in a direction lengthwise of the other incasing member, and means for moving one of said messing members in a direction lengthwise of the other of the incasing members.

18. In a fountain pen, embodying an ink containing body with a writing nib, a pair of incasing members for said body and nib,

Zgrovided at the nib end of the pen with intertting plug and seat parts, said plug and seat parts bein seating an unseating action on movement of one of the members in a direction lengthwise of the other of the members, anda connection between said members to afiord an engagement for moving one of them relatively te the other in a lengthwise direction.

19. In a fountain pen, embodying an ink containing body with a writing nib, a pair of theret my invention, I have si incasing members for said body and nib, provided at the nib endsof the pen with interfitting plug and seat parts, said seat part including a seat opening for the plug and said plu and seat parts being constructed and arrange for seatmg and unseating action on movement of one member in a direction lengthwise of the other of the members, means by which 7 to move one of the members lengthwise of the other of the members, said plug carrying member also having an opemng, means by which to rotate one of the members to align said 0 enin s for the projection of the nib llrou and means by which to move said body lengthwise and: independently of said members. a V 20. In a fountain pen, embodying an ink containing body with a writing nib, a pair of incasing members for said body and nib, provided at the nib end of the pen with interfitting plug and seat parts, said plug and seat parts bem constructed and arranged for seating an unseating action on movement of one of the members in a direction lengthwise of the other of the members, and a connection between'said members and body to afiord an en agement between them while permitting re ative movement of one of the members in a lengthwise direction with respect to the other of the members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as ed gviyaname hereto.

RIC D manna.

constructed and arranged for 

